Tunnel kilns



. May 12,197 I H.-SPITZBART EF I f 5 L TUNNEL KILNS I Filed July 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla] 4 INVENTORS HERBERT SPrv-ZBART MAN so Scnmrrz ATTORNEY;

Ma 12,1970. Q -5 ETAL "3,511,486

TUNNEL KILNS Filed July 23 1968 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERBERT SPv-rzsART ATTO United States Patent 3,511,486 TUNNEL KILNS Herbert Spitzbart, Ibbenburen, and Manfred Schmitz, Rheine, Germany, assignors to Keller Ofenbau GmbH, Laggenbeck, Westphalia, Germany, a joint-stock company of Germany Filed July 23, 1968, Ser. No. 746,913 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 4, 1968, 1,758,112 Int. Cl. F27b 9/00 US. Cl. 263-28 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tunnel kiln includes a firing zone through which ceramics to be fired are passed on carriages or trolleys. An exit end is sealed by a door, but to prevent escape of kiln gases when the door is opened, resilient shields are arranged to seal against the sides of the ware whenever the carriages are advanced through the kiln.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a kiln for the ceramics industry, and more particularly to a tunnel kiln for firing heavy ceramic ware.

In the firing zone of such a kiln, cars loaded with the ceramic ware to be fired are placed, with at least one door at the entrance ends, which can be moved across the cross-section of the kiln and at which at least one vent for flue gases and the like is provided in the roof of the kiln, at least one movable shield being provided in the kiln to block the free cross-section to the flow of the flue gases, this shield being spaced away from the door and preferably having scoop-shaped guides, for the flue gases and the like, on that side which faces towards the door.

The object of the invention is to improve such a kiln.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Within the firing zone of the kiln, resilient shields are provided which make sliding contact with the ceramic ware on the cars. In this way, the sealing action of the rigid shields already provided is considerably enhanced.

In one embodiment in which two rigid shields are fitted, the latter can be moved horizontally and locked in position.

In a kiln in which at least one flue gas vent pipe with extractor fan opens from the crown of the kiln, between the door and the shield, into the gas extraction space, several other vent pipes with extractor fans may open into the gas extraction space from the sides. These vent pipes ensure that the flue gases or other heating media are taken quickly away.

Another advantageous feature is that the kiln door is fitted with a sealing member, which rests on part of the loading flat of an end car and can be moved longitudinally in relation to the kiln and locked in position, this member enabling the car to be pushed continuously through the kiln.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the entrance end of a tunnel kiln in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the kiln shown in FIG. I; and

3 ,51 1,486 Patented May 12, 1970 FIG. 3 is a plan of the kiln shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings a tunnel kiln 1, of which the drawings show only the entrance end, is normally closed by the door 2, which can be raisedand lowered. Rails 4 extend along the length of the kiln 1, through the firing zone 3, on which the. cars 5a and 5b can be moved.

These cars 5a and 5b carry the ceramic ware that is to be fired, shaped bricks 6-, for example, which extends close to the kiln walls 1a and leaves only gaps 7a and 7b free along the Walls on each side. Between the bricks 6 fire gaps are provided which are arranged to align with fire holes '9, which serve to accommodate burners (not shown) for firing the kiln 1.

The cars So and 5b have interlocking loading flats and seal off the firing zone 3 from a passage running lengthwise below the tunnel kiln 1 and hence from the atmosphere.

The direction of travel of the cars 5a and 5b is indicated by arrow x, while the flue gases or the like are drawn off in the direction indicated by arrow y, which is opposite to the direction x, towards the entrance end of the tunnel kiln 1.

As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 1, there is a substantially rectangular-section gas extraction space 10, large in section behind the last group of bricks or other fired articles 6 on the rearmost car 5a, this space being bounded at the ends by the kiln door 2 and the last group of bricks 6 on the rearmost car 5a in conjunction with shields 11, and the scoop-shaped guides 12. At top and bottom, the gas extraction space 10 is bounded by the crown of the kiln and by a sealing member, 2a, respectively, which latter can be moved and locked in position and, by virtue of its length, enables the cars to be pushed through continuously.

Leading from the gas extraction space are one vent pipe, 13, in the crown of the kiln, and several other vent pipes, such as 13a and 13b, in the side walls, these pipes being equipped with extractor fans, 14, 14a and 14b, here indicated only diagrammatically. The extractor fans 14, 14a and 14b suck the flue gases or the like out of the gas extraction space in the direction T.

The shields 11 can be moved horizontally and adjusted by means not shown in the drawings. When the kiln door 2 is opened, the guide scoops 12 are raised into the empty space by the sealing member 211.

It will be at once evident that the gaps 7a and 7b along the walls are closed by the shields 11, so that the flue gases cannot rush forward in the vicinity thereof. The extractor fans 14, 14a and 14b draw the flue gases away via the gas extraction space 10, the guide scoops 12 and the groups of bricks 6 or other fired articles.

In addition to the shields 11, provision is made for resilient shields, 15a and 15b, these being fixed to the kiln wall 1a and making sliding contact with the ceramic ware.

We claim:

1. In a ceramic kiln means defining a firing zone having an entry end and a delivery end, said firing zone being capable of accommodating carrier means for ceramic ware to 'be fired,

at least one door at the entry end of said zone capable of extending across the cross-section of the kiln, means defining a kiln roof,

means defining a vent through the kiln roof for the removal of fiuegases,

at least one movable shield disposed in the firing zone and arranged to block the open cross-section of the 3 4 kiln to the flow of flue gases, said shield being a sealing member fitted to the door, which sealing memspaced from the door, ber rests on part of a loading fiat of a car and can resilient shields arranged to make sliding contact with be moved longitudinally in relation to the kiln and ceramic ware on the carrier means, locked in position, said sealing member enabling the an extractor fan opening into the gas extraction space 5 cars to be moved continuously through the kiln.

from the crown of the kiln, between the door and the shield, References Cited megllisnflefimng a gas extraction space laterally of the UNITED STATES PATENTS a plurality of vent pipes opening into the gas extraction 10 1,778,747 10/1930 Barnebey et a1. 263-28 space from the sides thereof, and 2,899,189 8/1959 Matis et a]. 263-28 a gas extractor fan in each said vent pipe. 2. A kiln according to claim 1, comprising JOHN J, CAMBY, Primary Examiner 

